Our latest Windows software for the CableEye® PC-based cable tester makes it easier than ever to test, document, and label cables of all kinds. The familiar Windows interface lets users measure a cable in less than one second, view a graphic wiring display of the cable's schematic, add descriptive notes, and save cable data in a searchable database for future reference.

CableEye's unique, patented software makes it the only cable tester available that can generate color cable wiring graphics automatically from continuity measurements, easily showing the location of faults. Publication-quality wiring schematics produced on a laser printer may be used for documentation, bid submissions, and quality-control reports, greatly assisting ISO9000-certified companies.

The software may be set up for automatic operation by unskilled operators. By pressing one button or scanning a bar code, the operator will trigger a sequence that checks a cable, prints a serialized label, outputs documentation, and logs the test result to a batch record on disk. The test time, error rate, operator name, and average time to test are also stored. This ensures repeatable, traceable testing.

CableEye may easily be used with touchscreen laptop and notebook PCs for field testing. This software comes with all testers at no extra charge.

Full-Screen Image

The left side of this actual screen image (below) shows summary representations of the cable under test and the match cable to which it is compared (gray boxes). In this case, a straight-through DB15HD female-to-male cable was measured ("Test Data"), and we are comparing it to a DB15HD male-to-female cable with complex wiring ("Match Data"). Note that the test data (top blue screen) is not shielded and its wiring is quite different. You may highlight a particular wire path for study if desired, as shown in the Match Data window below.

Descriptive notes about the Match Data cable appear in an editable window in the lower left part of the screen. Each cable stored in the database includes separate fields for descriptive notes and label text. If a cable will not fit in the window shown, click the "expand" button (an "X" with arrowheads on each corner) for a full-screen wiring display.

Comparing Two Cables

When Test Data and Match Data compare perfectly, there are no differences between cables, and we judge the device under test as "good". The lower window in this screen shot shows a DB15HD male-to-male direct extension.

We set the upper window in this case to show the differences between Test and Match data by pressing the Delta button (small triangle, see the tool bar along the top of the screen). Because the cables are identical, we see the message Cables Match, No Differences.

In this case, there is a short circuit between pins 3 and 13 on the left side of the cable, and missing connections on the right side. The difference list indicates missing connections (opens) with a "-" highlighted in yellow, and extra connections (shorts) with a "+" highlighted in red.

Measuring Diodes

CableEye automatically detects diodes embedded in a cable when you test or learn a new cable. Simple diode connections are drawn using the standard diode symbol while complex diode networks appear listed in a floating window above the schematic. Miswired diodes or diodes with incorrect polarity are detected immediately. Note that, excluding the M2U-Basic and M2U, all testers will measure the diode's forward voltage as shown here.

Measuring Resistors (All CableEye Models excluding M2U-Basic and M2U)

Measure embedded resistors or resistor networks within a cable, wiring harness, or backplane. In this case, the 120 Ω resistor in the test data agrees with the position and value of the resistor stored in the Match Data (not shown), and a "PASS" indicator appears (yellow check in green box). Choose the tolerance you wish in the Resistance Preferences panel before measurement so that insignificant variations in value will be accepted.

Highlight the resistor in the Test Data window, as shown below, and see the measured value in the Group Netlist popup window. Click the "Ω" button to remeasure the resistance of that line, or the "continuous" button (circulating arrows) to continually remeasure the resistance while you look for bad connections or adjust a potentiometer.

When resistance errors are found during testing, the Wiring Differences net list shows by how much the resistance differs from your specification. In this case, the cable should have all conductors below the low threshold of 10 ohms (current thresholds appear in the message bar along the bottom of the screen).

One conductor exceeds that limit at 11 Ω. Highlight the affected wire and click the "Ω" button to retest just that wire.

Netlist Display

To view details of the wiring connections, use the Netlist Display instead of the graphic wiring display. This shows the wire connections, resistance threshold, electrical reference numbers, wire colors, and descriptions for each wire.

Testing Wire Harnesses

Complex wiring with multiple connectors may be organized on the screen by simply dragging connectors to the desired position. You may also add or edit wiring using a rubber-banding tool when the wiring editor is turned on. Note that the gray button with red arrow next to each connector indicates the direction of view into the connector. Click this button to reverse the view (change from looking into the pins to into the terminations, or vice-versa).

Automatic Testing

Press the TEST pushbutton on the CableEye fixture to trigger an automatic test sequence of your choice. You may choose any of the twelve standard test sequences included with the distribution software, or design your own.

In this case, we start on line 1 by asking the operator to choose a cable from the database. Then, we initialize a "count" variable on line 2 and wait for the operator to press the TEST pushbutton on line 3. When Line 3 is reached, an Operator Note pops up (seen below) giving the operator the option to continue with the test (Start Test), stop testing (Cancel), or temporarily stop (Pause).

Whenever the button is pressed, we continue on Line 5 to test a cable. A label printed automatically if it is a good cable, or a tone sounded instead if it is a bad cable. This process continues indefinitely until the operator clicks the STOP button or presses Cancel in the operator note seen below. You may choose any initial count value, and embed it in text to generate serial numbers of your choice.

Barcode Scanning

Use a barcode scanner to address the requirements of greater data security along with ensuring consistent and fast production testing. Assign a serial number to each cable and archive it in a database to capture a complete record of every cable tested.

New Macro instructions in this version include "Wait for Scan..." which may be used in place of "Wait for PB..." (PushButton), "Enter Operator Name" for on-the-fly changes of operators during a Macro, "Timestamp" to record the date and time of testing in the database archive, and "Open/Resume Log File" to resume adding cables to a previously created log file.

"Wait for Scan..." lets you use a bar code reader to scan in any number of variables required by your application, including Unit Serial Number, Batch, Lot Code, Operator Name, Test Station Number, and Plant Code.

Access Control

You may choose to assign operator names with optional passwords and varying degrees of privilege and set-up (such as language). In this way, you may limit access to the tester to authorized personnel only, and protect the database, Macros, logs, and system settings from tampering. Neither User names nor passwords are required, and you may choose to use the system with fully open access in a single-user environment.

Guided Assembly(An add-on option)

Use our AutoBuild software for guided assembly with speech for cable and wire harness manufacturing. During construction, the technician touches an unterminated wire using either a probe, or a finger with wriststrap, and the software reads the intended connection point using high-quality synthetic speech. The software also shows a connector graphic with the target pin highlighted. Once the connection is made, audible feedback confirms a proper connection or warns of an error.

Synthetic speech increases throughput, and helps the technician avoid repetitive motion injury to the neck and shoulders by eliminating the need to look constantly between the workpiece and the videoscreen. A simple half-open headset permits the speech to be easily heard in a noisy environment without interfering with other workers.

The AutoBuild can be provided with English, Spanish, French, and German speech modules.

Cable Documentation

Click the "Print" button to produce hard copy documentation of your cables. Additional pages are printed for long wire lists or notes. Print to a laser printer, inkjet printer, plotter, or .pdf file using Adobe Acrobat®. You may also fax this drawing directly from CableEye.

Print what you see below right now and click here for more examples of reports and labels.